Agriculture - Sacco Review | The Leading Newspaper for Co-operative Movement in Kenya

Britam pays out Ksh 97.3 million in climate insurance claims as Kenya’s agricultural coverage grows by 83%

Sacco ReviewJune 5, 202606 mins

Kenyan insurer Britam disbursed KSh97.3 million in agricultural insurance claims in 2025, cushioning tens of thousands of smallholder farmers and pastoralists battling the effects of drought and erratic rainfall, as the company recorded an 83% jump in crop insurance coverage across the country. According to the insurer’s 2025 Sustainability Report, crop insurance uptake rose sharply…

Finance Bill 2026 exempts sugarcane transport from VAT, boosting farmers and transporters

Sacco ReviewJune 2, 202603 mins

Sugarcane farmers and transporters are set to benefit from a major tax reform under the proposed Finance Bill 2026, which will fully exempt sugarcane transport services from Value Added Tax (VAT). The move aims to reduce operational costs in the sugar industry, a sector that has long faced financial pressures from high transport and production…

Gov’t moves to dispel myths on proposed 0.8pc Tea Levy, assures farmers of protection

Sacco ReviewJune 1, 2026June 1, 202605 mins

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has moved to dispel growing concerns over the proposed tea levy, insisting that farmers will not bear the cost and that all proceeds will be reinvested directly into the industry. Under the draft framework, tea exports will attract a levy of 0.8 per cent of the auction value…

Government orders bulk purchase of local rice to stabilise market amid import concerns

Sacco ReviewJune 1, 202604 mins

Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Kipronoh Rono has directed the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to immediately buy all locally available rice stock from farmers’ stores to stabilise prices and support farmers, as production gaps continue to push Kenya to rely heavily on rice imports. The directive comes…

Equity Group, MSC partner to boost fish farmers with credit, insurance and digital tools

Sacco ReviewMay 31, 202605 mins

Fishing communities, aquaculture farmers and traders across Kenya are set to benefit from a new programme designed to expand access to credit, insurance, training and modern technology in the fisheries sector. The initiative, launched through a partnership between Equity Group and MicroSave Consulting (MSC), seeks to tackle long‑standing barriers that have slowed growth in Kenya’s…

Mumias Sugar factory resumes operations, pledges prompt payments and fair treatment for all cane farmers

Sacco ReviewMay 29, 202603 mins

Mumias Sugar 2021 Limited has announced that its factory in Western Kenya is fully operational and ready to receive sugarcane from all farmers following the completion of a planned four-week annual maintenance period. The firm, operated by Sarrai Group under a lease arrangement, said the maintenance work has been concluded and the factory is now…

How cucumber farming if turning around fortunes for Kiambu farmers

Sacco ReviewMay 28, 202607 mins

Cucumber farming has become a highly lucrative venture for farmers in Kiambu County, offering a rapid return on investment due to the high demand in urban markets, hotels and supermarkets. Farmers say that cucumbers are slowly turning into green gold noting that they are generating high proceeds from the crop that has a short maturity…

Kenya urged to build homegrown agriculture financing systems as donor aid shrinks

Sacco ReviewMay 27, 202605 mins

Kenya and other African nations are being pressed to rethink how they fund agriculture and food systems, amid shrinking donor support, global economic uncertainty, and intensifying climate risks. Experts warn that without stronger local financing structures, millions of farmers and small businesses could be left vulnerable. Speaking during the Financing Agri‑Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026…

Senate committee holds forum in Bungoma to address sugarcane sector challenges

Sacco ReviewMay 27, 202604 mins

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on Tuesday held a stakeholders’ consultative forum in Bungoma County to address persistent challenges facing the sugarcane subsector and explore ways of improving the livelihoods of farmers across the country. The forum, chaired by David Wakoli, brought together sugarcane farmers, farmers’ associations, representatives and management of…

Kericho farmers abandon maize, embrace coffee cultivation as profits decline

Sacco ReviewMay 26, 202604 mins

Kericho County is rapidly establishing itself as a key coffee-producing hub, driven by hundreds of farmers in Kipkelion East’s Masambworik area who are turning to coffee cultivation. The shift comes as many farmers abandon maize farming and other traditional cash crops. Over the years, these crops have seen declining returns driven by rising production costs,…